1 Thessalonians 5:12, commentary and pictures

Believers are called to personally know and recognize those who work hard among them, who lead and oversee them in the Lord, and who counsel and warn them. At Thessalonica the church already had appointed ministers and deacons, yet some resisted their authority and pressed their own views, and this charge to show respect and deference answers that resistance as a command of the Lord Jesus Christ through His worker for the order of ministry He Himself established. Those who do this spiritual work of oversight are to be valued very highly in love because of their work, living at peace with one another while warning the unruly, comforting the fainthearted, supporting the weak, and being patient with all. They are to be loved, honored, and respected for God's message they bear, whose power comes from Him and not from their own gifts, receiving even their reproofs and warnings without despising them, yet never idolized, exalted above Christ, or trusted instead of God. Practicing this forbids evil speaking, accusing, faultfinding, mistrust, and wounding the reputation of brethren, and calls instead for tender respect, kindness, forbearance, forgiveness, and readiness to provide for ministers so that no laboring preacher suffers want.

Meaning and Original Setting

Believers are called to personally know and recognize those who labor among them, who are over them in the Lord leading and overseeing them, and who admonish and counsel them. To know them means to acknowledge their spiritual work of oversight with respect, deference, honor and loving regard due to its responsibilities. At Thessalonica the church already had appointed officers including ministers and deacons, yet some rejected and resisted their authority and publicly pressed their own views and fanatical ideas, and this instruction to show respect and deference answers that resistance.

The requirement is a command from the Lord Jesus Christ given through His worker. It reflects a work and order of ministry established by Christ Himself as the great Head of the church, so that those God appoints to this service of laboring among believers, being over them in the Lord, and admonishing them are fellow workers with God to be known, respected, honored, loved and valued greatly.

The following verse continues the thought by calling believers to value these workers very highly in love because of their work and to live at peace with one another. The next verses extend this to warning the unruly, comforting the fainthearted, supporting the weak, and being patient with everyone.

Esteem Due to Leaders

The verse calls believers to know, recognize, respect, honor, love, and highly value in love those who labor among them, lead them in the Lord, and admonish them, because their work of spiritual oversight and its responsibilities deserve loving respect and deference. Church officers hold authority in that spiritual work, and the call answers those who rejected appointed leaders and publicly pressed their own views, for at Thessalonica the church already had appointed officers including ministers and deacons, yet some resisted their authority and pressed fanatical ideas publicly. This work and order of ministry was established by Christ Himself as the great Head of the church, so those God appoints to labor among believers and to be over them in the Lord and to admonish them are fellow workers with God.

Ministers who labor for the church as God's servants are to be esteemed, loved, and respected for their work, since their ministry bears a message from God whose power comes from Him rather than from personal gifts or manner of speaking. Glory and the deepest affection belong to God, and believers are to look to the Redeemer rather than allowing the minister to eclipse Jesus. The minister must not be idolized, exalted above Christ, or trusted instead of God, for such undue attachment hinders spiritual growth and harms the minister.

Recognition includes receiving reproof, cautions, and warnings as means God uses to teach the way of salvation, without dismissing them because the messengers are not learned, criticizing them lightly, or accepting only what is pleasing. It requires harmony and right feelings toward those who labor among believers and are over them in the Lord, including men in responsible positions in the General Conference as fellow workers of God's appointment. This means appreciating the burdens they bear, showing thankfulness and a forgiving spirit when errors are corrected and encouragement is spoken, and if their harmony is expected then showing harmony toward them. It forbids catching at straws about them because they do not harmonize with every plan or give expected credit, and forbids casting imputations upon them or allowing others to do so.

Highly esteeming God's servants requires putting away selfishness and being ready to act for ministers and provide for them whenever there is opportunity to do so. Where this duty is practiced, supporters and friends of the truth become numerous and ready to give, with means in abundance. Then a laboring preacher who trusts in the people's benevolence meets no privation or risk that would strain faith and trust in God for support.

Obedience in Daily Life

The call to know those who labor and lead and admonish is to be earnestly obeyed, taken in, and practiced, not merely acknowledged. Obeying it means drawing near to God, fearing to sin against Him by being unjust to brethren, fearing to offend His children, and refusing to wound or bruise His heritage. It requires showing tender interest for all for whom Christ died, in hope of His mercy toward sinners. It forbids ever handling a brother's reputation in a way that offends God, for He loves brethren as He loves us and takes as much pleasure in them as in us.

That obedience forbids evil speaking, accusing, faultfinding, and misrepresenting brethren and their reputations when personal ideas are not treated as of highest value or exalted and honored. In their place it calls for cultivating kindness and forbearance and love and for representing Christ in character. By conduct believers show what their influence and principles are worth, for if self is the center self is seen in all they do, while if Christ is the center they bear His likeness.

Toward fellow workers this means showing tender respect and love rather than merely tolerating them without confidence. It excludes mistrusting their efforts, misinterpreting their words and actions, and brooding over supposed wrongs. A discouraged worker who feels his brethren have no trust in him is to receive that esteem and peace.

Carried into practice with mutual edification and peace, this knowing belongs to being children of light constantly prepared for the day of the Lord coming as a thief in the night. So practiced, it brings a great change in lives now inspired by the spirit that works in the children of disobedience. The whole fifth chapter should therefore be read and heeded, receiving more attention and being read in every church before as well as during seasons of prayer.